Joe L @ I Do Mind Dying: Live Action Mixtape (VIDEO)

Posted on
July 29, 2015

In this video we feature Joe L, who performed at our “I Do Mind Dying” event last Summer. As the grand finale to the I Do Mind Dying: Live Mixtape event, we feature the legendary Joe L singing live for the first time in over two decades. The lyrics to this song, “Please Mr. Foreman”, were authored while he worked in an auto plant, and lent themselves to both the title of the book Detroit: I Do Mind Dying, and this event. There is also a forthcoming documentary about the water movement in Detroit directed by KateLevy borrowing this powerful lyric and statement of dignity and power.

Joe L is a lifelong Detroiter who grew up in the Del Ray neighborhood of the city, and after many years writing, recording, and touring classic records with several soul record labels, he went on to become involved in supporting families through his church who are impacted by the prison industrial complex and the criminalization of black youth. We hope to amplify more of Joe L’s powerful music and stories soon.

This video of Joe L is produced by Emergence Media, filmed and edited by TimJagielo.

Emergence presented the "I Do Mind Dying" Live Action Mixtape on July 19, 2014 at Detroit's New Center Park. The event was hosted by and featured performances from Invincible, MizKorona, and TundeOlaniran.